The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
O’Sullivan puts marathon plan on hold for now as he begins World title bid
O’Sullivan targets sixth world success
Ronnie O’Sullivan is looking forward to the day when he can swap one marathon for another.
Snooker’s biggest star heads into the gruelling 17-day Betfred World Championship as favourite after a stunning season which has brought him a record-equalling five ranking titles.
But each year O’Sullivan has to focus on his baize battles at this time of year, and that rules out a tilt at the London Marathon every April for the keen amateur athlete.
This year’s race takes place tomorrow and O’Sullivan, who runs for the Woodford Green club, is determined to eventually tackle the 26.2-mile course. For now snooker has to take priority.
“I’ve never really trained for the marathon, although I could run one,” O’Sullivan said.
“If I was doing it I’d want to do it in a good time. I’ve never been a marathon runner, more five or six miles, so it’s probably something I’ll do when I finish snooker.
“I’ll definitely do one when the time’s right but the time’s not right at the moment, I’ve got too much going on.”
O’Sullivan is targeting a sixth title Sheffield, where the tournament, often described as a marathon of the mind due to its sapping mental demands on players, begins today. After already earning £824,500 this year, a run to the final would see him become the first player to ever earn £1 million in a season.
He tackles Scotland’s Stephen Maguire in the first round, a tough opener against a player who has twice reached semi-finals at the Crucible.
“Stephen’s a fantastic player and the sort you wouldn’t want to draw in the first round,” O’Sullivan said.
The 42-year-old O’Sullivan took a swipe at tournament officials for banning football shirts, which means the familiar front-row tradition of Coventry fan Brian Wright in one of his many retro Sky Blues tops could be a thing of the past.
O’Sullivan said it was the wrong call from World Snooker, whose chairman Barry Hearn has backed the ban.
“You pay your money, you get your ticket, you should be allowed to wear whatever you want,” O’Sullivan said.
“It’s quite laughable when you read it really. At darts they seem to be walking about in Superman outfits.”
It remains to be seen whether fans in football shirts are turned away today, when O’Sullivan’s campaign begins in the afternoon session.
Defending champion Mark Selby starts in the morning against Joe Perry.